You’re reading an award-winning newspaper

SARA MINOGUE

Late nights at the keyboard paid off this spring, when Nunatsiaq News picked up 13 awards in two community newspaper competitions.

The Canadian Community Newspaper Association gave Nunatsiaq News second place in its Best All Around Newspaper category, after judges in the annual Better Newspaper Competition read 30 newspapers from around the country.

The newspaper came second place for Best Editorial Page, and third for Best Coverage of the Arts. The winners were announced on June 4 at the CCNA awards banquet in Hull, Quebec.

The Quebec Community Newspaper Association, announced the winners of its 2003 awards show in May, where Nunatsiaq News came second in the Best Overall Newspaper category.

The prestigious Paul Dumont-Frenette Award, which is given to an individual writer with the best overall performance, went to Jim Bell, editor-in-chief of Nunatsiaq News.

Bell came first for best business story, for a riveting article published February 7, 2003, which describes how a small Vancouver mining company outsmarted two diamond industry giants to win seven million acres of exploration permits on Baffin Island.

He also won first prize for best community health story, for “Shining a Light on the Heart of Darkness,” a story about a 700-delegate suicide prevention conference held in Iqaluit last May.

Jim placed second in the best editorial (local affairs) category, just behind David Goldberg of Montreal’s The West End Chronicle.

Former Managing Editor Patricia D’Souza came first in the best features page competition for her story on the memorial service held for Joamie School last July. She also won the prize for best photo essay, for pictures of a gathering of Nunavut and Nunavik elders.

Staff writer Greg Younger-Lewis won best municipal/civic affairs story, for an article that exposed the state of disrepair of the municipal sewage truck that killed a four-year-old girl in Iqaluit last year.

The advertising department also picked up some QCNA awards.

The newspaper came third for best community newspaper pomotion, for a promotion using “Auction Bucks” at last year’s Nunavut Trade Show. Nunatsiaq News also came third for best self-promotional ad.